Review
Plant Sciences
Priyanka Singh, Yamshi Arif, Andrzej Bajguz, Shamsul Hayat
Summary: Flavonoids are a special category of hydroxylated phenolic compounds with an aromatic ring structure, and quercetin is a subclass known for its bioactive properties in promoting plant physiological processes and antioxidant functions. Quercetin plays a crucial role in enhancing various physiological and biochemical processes in plants under stress and non-stress conditions, while also showing potential in mitigating biotic and abiotic stresses such as salt, heavy metal, and UV stress. Additionally, the biosynthesis of flavonoids, their signaling pathways, and quercetin's involvement in plant signaling are discussed in this review.
PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Review
Plant Sciences
Peng Wang, Ning Wan, Walter J. Horst, Zhong-Bao Yang
Summary: This review summarizes recent advances and highlights the involvement of regulatory networks in Al-induced signalling and root growth inhibition. Al toxicity is a major constraint for crop growth in acid soils. The root apex, especially the TZ, is the main site of Al accumulation and injury. Phytohormones and other signals play crucial roles in the regulation of Al-induced root growth inhibition. Understanding the molecular functions of cell wall modification and Al resistance-related genes provides insights into the defense system against Al. The apoplast plays a decisive role in sensing and transmitting Al-induced signals to the symplast.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2023)
Review
Agronomy
Mohd Asgher, Abdul Rehaman, Syed Nazar ul Islam, Mohd Arshad, Nafees A. Khan
Summary: Heavy metals contamination poses a threat to crop productivity and human health. In recent years, researchers have explored the use of mineral nutrients like selenium (Se) to combat the harmful effects of heavy metals. Selenium, known for its antioxidant properties, inhibits metal uptake, improves antioxidant system, and enhances HM toxicity resistance in plants. It also regulates osmolyte production and defense mechanisms in plants. The exact mechanisms of Se in HM tolerance and its interactions with phytohormones and genes need further exploration. This study will contribute to the improvement of HM tolerance in plants through Se application.
Article
Plant Sciences
Bong-Gyu Mun, Hyun-Ho Kim, Heung Joo Yuk, Adil Hussain, Gary John Loake, Byung-Wook Yun
Summary: Coumestrol levels correlate with senescence in soybean leaves, accumulating mainly during leaf maturation or senescence. External application of phytohormones induces yellowing and significant increase in endogenous coumestrol accumulation, indicating a link between phytohormones and coumestrol levels.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Yuanjing Zhu, Tingting Dong, Fangyuan Sun, Yuxin Xiao, Qingxue Guo
Summary: The sexual dimorphism in dioecious plants plays a significant role in shaping their microbiota, with distinct differences observed in bacterial and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities. Phytohormones and defensive compounds in these plants have been found to influence the composition of the endophyte community in different soil conditions.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xin Wang, Setsuko Komatsu
Summary: Climate variations affect plants in various ways, including their morphology, physiology, biology, and biochemistry. Flooding stress is particularly detrimental to plant growth, but plants can cope with it through adaptive morphological changes and physiological adjustments regulated by hormonal signaling networks. Understanding plant responses to flooding is crucial for the development of flood-tolerant crops.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Faiza Ali, Ghulam Qanmber, Fuguang Li, Zhi Wang
Summary: This review highlights the important roles of ABA in seed development stages and germination, as well as the crosstalk between ABA and other hormones and signaling molecules. The review addresses novel points and key challenges, and outlines future perspectives for ABA regulating seed-associated traits.
JOURNAL OF ADVANCED RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Plant Sciences
Alok Ranjan, Ragini Sinha, Shambhu Krishan Lal, Sujit Kumar Bishi, Anil Kumar Singh
Summary: Studies have shown that phytohormones play important roles in regulating plants' tolerance to aluminum toxicity, especially auxin, cytokinin, and abscisic acid. These phytohormones control the root responses to aluminum toxicity by modulating reactive oxygen species signaling, cell wall modifications, and other pathways.
PLANT CELL REPORTS
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Irshad Ahmad, Guanglong Zhu, Guisheng Zhou, Xudong Song, Muhi Eldeen Hussein Ibrahim, Ebtehal Gabralla Ibrahim Salih, Shahid Hussain, Muhammad Usama Younas
Summary: Phyto-hormones in plants are crucial for regulating crop growth and yield, especially under salt stress. Recent studies have highlighted the significant role of exogenous hormones, such as gibberellin (GA) and salicylic acid (SA), in regulating cotton's response to salt stress. However, a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms by which these hormones regulate growth and yield under salt stress is still lacking.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Hong Zhang, Binrui Chen, Xiaoyi Zhao, Jing Hu, Zhijie Dong, Hui Xiao, Yanwen Yuan, Fei Guo, Yu Wang, Dejiang Ni, Pu Wang
Summary: This study demonstrates the necessity of leaf and light during cuttage by conducting experiments on 24 tea cultivars. Lower net photosynthesis rate is found to promote rooting. Leaf transcriptome analysis of an easy-to-root cultivar reveals differentially expressed genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism, signal transduction, metabolite biosynthesis and transportation during the rooting process.
Article
Plant Sciences
Jacob Macwilliams, Erika Peirce, William Jacob Pitt, Melissa Schreiner, Tierra Matthews, Linxing Yao, Corey Broeckling, Punya Nachappa
Summary: This study investigates the role of the main cannabinoid in hemp, cannabidiol (CBD), in plant defense against the cannabis aphid. The results show that cannabis aphids have reduced fecundity and adult longevity on high cannabinoid cultivars compared to low-cannabinoid cultivars in whole plant assays. However, supplementing CBD in artificial feeding assays actually increased aphid fecundity. Aphid feeding did not impact cannabinoid levels in leaf tissues, but it increased levels of major phytohormones associated with plant defense responses.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Harshida A. Gamit, Hetvi Naik, Komal A. Chandarana, Sapna Chandwani, Natarajan Amaresan
Summary: Climate change is a natural disaster that leads to fluctuations in the ecosystem and an increase in temperature and UV radiation on the Earth's surface. Greenhouse gases, such as chlorofluorocarbons, methane, nitrogen oxide, and carbon dioxide, hinder sustainable agriculture. Using microorganisms to overcome environmental stress and enhance plant growth is a viable option. Methylobacterium, a pink-pigmented facultative methylotroph, produces secondary metabolites that improve plant metabolism and promote growth under stress conditions.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Shafeeq Ur Rahman, Yanliang Li, Sajjad Hussain, Babar Hussain, Waqas-ud-Din Khan, Luqman Riaz, Muhammad Nadeem Ashraf, Muhammad Athar Khaliq, Zhenjie Du, Hefa Cheng
Summary: The toxic effects of heavy metals on plants are a global concern, as they directly threaten the food supply chain. Studies have shown that exogenous application of phytohormones can mitigate the negative effects of heavy metal stress in plants and promote their growth and development. However, further research is needed to fully understand the potential pathways of phytohormones in mitigating heavy metal toxicity.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2023)
Review
Plant Sciences
Paola Hernandez-Carranza, Raul Avila-Sosa, Obdulia Vera-Lopez, Addi R. Navarro-Cruz, Hector Ruiz-Espinosa, Irving I. Ruiz-Lopez, Carlos E. Ochoa-Velasco
Summary: Tomato, an important fruit worldwide, is affected by stress factors. Tomato plants respond to stress through hormone involvement and reduce oxidative damage caused by stress factors through the antioxidant system. However, the impact of endogenous and/or exogenous hormones on tomato secondary metabolism is still poorly understood.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Patrycja Wojtaczka, Anna Ciarkowska, Ewelina Starzynska, Maciej Ostrowski
Summary: GH3 genes are important in the plant kingdom, encoding proteins that play crucial roles in plant development and response to stress factors. In addition to their enzymatic functions, GH3 proteins can interact with other proteins to regulate light and stress signaling pathways.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Zhe (Han) Weng, Johannes Lehmann, Lukas Van Zwieten, Stephen Joseph, Braulio S. Archanjo, Bruce Cowie, Lars Thomsen, Mark J. Tobin, Jitraporn Vongsvivut, Annaleise Klein, Casey L. Doolette, Helen Hou, Carsten W. Mueller, Enzo Lombi, Peter M. Kopittke
Summary: Soil organic carbon management is a nature-based method for carbon dioxide removal, which also enhances soil health and agricultural productivity. Recent theories emphasize the importance of molecular diversity, spatial heterogeneity, and temporal variability of organic compounds in controlling the formation and persistence of soil organic matter (SOM). Advanced in situ techniques are needed to study these processes without disturbing the physical and chemical integrity of the sample.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Peter M. Kopittke, Asmeret Asefaw Berhe, Yolima Carrillo, Timothy R. Cavagnaro, Deli Chen, Qing-Lin Chen, Mercedes Roman Dobarco, Feike A. Dijkstra, Damien J. Field, Michael J. Grundy, Ji-Zheng He, Frances C. Hoyle, Ingrid Kogel-Knabner, Shu Kee Lam, Petra Marschner, Cristina Martinez, Alex B. McBratney, Eve McDonald-Madden, Neal W. Menzies, Luke M. Mosley, Carsten W. Mueller, Daniel V. Murphy, Uffe N. Nielsen, Anthony G. O'Donnell, Elise Pendall, Jennifer Pett-Ridge, Cornelia Rumpel, Iain M. Young, Budiman Minasny
Summary: Healthy soils play a crucial role in planetary survivability, providing not only calories but also other essential functions. However, intensive agriculture is rapidly degrading soils and diminishing their capacity to deliver vital functions, highlighting the need to focus on the multiple functions of soils for long-term human welfare and the survivability of the planet.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jun Dai, Zhu Tang, A-Xiang Gao, Britta Planer-Friedrich, Peter M. Kopittke, Fang-Jie Zhao, Peng Wang
Summary: The accumulation of arsenic (As) in rice is a global concern for human health and international trade. In addition to toxic inorganic arsenic (iAs) and dimethylated arsenate (DMA), highly toxic dimethylated monothioarsenate (DMMTA) is also found in rice worldwide. Previous routine analytical methods mistakenly identified DMMTA as less-toxic DMA. By using a new analytical method, it was discovered that DMMTA is present in rice at concentrations ranging from <0.20 to 34.8 μg/kg, accounting for 0 to 21% of total As. There is a strong linear correlation between DMA and DMMTA concentrations in all rice samples. DMMTA should be considered in health risk assessments and food regulations due to its global occurrence and potential high toxicity.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Soil Science
Lei (Helen) Hou, Wei Gao, Frederik der Bom van, Zhe (Han) Weng, Casey L. Doolette, Anton Maksimenko, Daniel Hausermann, Yunyun Zheng, Caixian Tang, Enzo Lombi, Peter M. Kopittke
Summary: This review discusses the use of X-ray CT technology to examine root distribution in soils and its importance. With the development of high-end X-ray CT systems and image processing algorithms, this method can be used to study various factors such as root system architecture and soil-root interactions.
Article
Plant Sciences
Zi-Wen Ren, Peter M. Kopittke, Fang-Jie Zhao, Peng Wang
Summary: Rice is a vital source of calories and mineral nutrients, but the accumulation of essential and toxic elements in rice grain remains poorly understood. This study analyzed the temporal changes in dry matter, elemental concentrations, and gene expression during grain development. Three distinct patterns of element accumulation were observed, which can be attributed to differences in soil behavior, nutrient redistribution, gene expression, and sink-source relationship.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2023)
Review
Plant Sciences
Soren Husted, Francesco Minutello, Andrea Pinna, Stine Le Tougaard, Pauline Mos, Peter M. Kopittke
Summary: An urgent challenge in agriculture is to improve fertilizer efficiency to reduce the environmental impact of increased crop production. Standard soil fertilization strategies are often inefficient due to soil immobilization and nutrient losses. Foliar fertilization offers an attractive alternative, but is hindered by leaf barriers and limited nutrient translocation. Recent advances in bionanotechnology provide emerging possibilities to overcome these challenges. This review discusses how nanoparticles can be tailored with smart properties to enhance nutrient delivery to plant tissues.
TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Soil Science
Gregor Meyer, Michael J. Bell, Peter M. Kopittke, Enzo Lombi, Casey L. Doolette, Gianluca Brunetti, Wantana Klysubun, Chelsea K. Janke
Summary: In order to improve crop nutrition, phosphorus (P) fertiliser is increasingly being applied in concentrated bands. Although information is available regarding the sequence of reactions that occur within the band itself, comparatively little is known regarding the reactions controlling P diffusion and availability further away from fertiliser bands. The present study used two contrasting soils in an incubation experiment to investigate the impact of soil characteristics, form of P fertiliser, and the co-application of potassium (K) on changes in P speciation and availability up to 40 mm away from the fertosphere (i.e., volume of soil which includes the fertiliser band and the fertiliser-enriched soil immediately adjacent band).
Review
Plant Sciences
Cui Li, Yingying Mo, Nina Wang, Longyi Xing, Yang Qu, Yanlong Chen, Zuoqiang Yuan, Arshad Ali, Jiyan Qi, Victoria Fernandez, Yuheng Wang, Peter M. Kopittke
Summary: Trichomes, the epidermal outgrowths on plant shoots, have been recognized for their protective and specialized metabolite synthesis functions. Recent studies have revealed their important roles in water absorption and metal detoxification, which have implications for ecology, the environment, and agriculture. However, these functions have been overlooked and much remains unknown. This review presents evidence of trichomes in various plant species involved in water absorption and metal sequestration, highlighting their unique structural features and mechanisms. Future research should focus on addressing knowledge gaps and important questions regarding these trichome functions.
PLANT CELL AND ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Zi-Wen Ren, Meng Yang, Brigid A. McKenna, Xing-Ming Lian, Fang-Jie Zhao, Peter M. Kopittke, Enzo Lombi, Peng Wang
Summary: The concentration, chemical speciation, and spatial distribution of essential and toxic mineral elements in cereal seeds have significant implications for human health. X-ray fluorescence microscopy (mu-XRF) is used to identify genes responsible for element uptake, translocation, and storage, and an ImageJ-based pipeline is developed for spatial distribution analysis. This method is applied in rice seeds and diverse rice accessions, identifying loci and mutants associated with the spatial distribution of elements and providing a basis for investigating the genetics and molecular mechanisms controlling mineral elements in plant seeds.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hongda Sun, Wei Guo, Qianqian Zhou, Yafang Gong, Zhiyuan Lv, Quan Wang, Hui Mao, Peter M. Kopittke
Summary: In this study, the long-term effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) on the growth of wheat and the soil environment were examined using a field experiment. Results showed that ZnO-NPs increased the concentration of zinc in the grain, but it mainly accumulated as zinc phytate, which is important for food safety. Moreover, ZnO-NPs had minimal impact on the soil bacterial community structure and showed no nano-specific toxicity.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Xingshu Wang, Zikang Guo, Xiaoli Hui, Runze Wang, Sen Wang, Peter M. Kopittke, Zhaohui Wang, Mei Shi
Summary: Addition of N fertilizer improves the concentration and bioavailability of Zn in wheat grains by coordinating the relationships among Zn, P, and S.
Article
Soil Science
Yaqi Zhang, Ranjan Bhattacharyya, Damien Finn, Henry W. G. Birt, Paul G. Dennis, Ram C. Dalal, Andrew R. Jones, Gregor Meyer, Buddhi Dayananda, Peng Wang, Neal W. Menzies, Peter M. Kopittke
Summary: Tillage and nitrogen fertilization have varying effects on soil properties in subtropical climates, especially in Vertisols. This study found that total organic carbon significantly increased with nitrogen fertilization under no-till practices. Total nitrogen concentrations were only influenced by nitrogen fertilization and not affected by tillage. Enzyme activity was affected by nitrogen application and tillage, but bacterial and fungal diversity remained unaffected. Overall, no-till and nitrogen fertilization are important for managing soil properties in this subtropical region, although the impact may be less pronounced over long-term trials.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Yunyun Zheng, Jian Jin, Xiaojuan Wang, Peter M. Kopittke, James B. O'Sullivan, Caixian Tang
Summary: This review synthesizes the key factors driving the responses of the priming effect (PE) to nitrogen (N) addition. It discusses the factors such as C-substrate quantity and quality, N addition rates and forms, and soil properties. It also examines the temporal change in the N effect on the PE.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Peter M. M. Kopittke, Budiman Minasny, Elise Pendall, Cornelia Rumpel, Brigid A. A. McKenna
Summary: Soil plays a crucial role in both planetary and human health, contributing to biomass production, regulating carbon, supporting biodiversity, cycling nutrients, and water cycling. However, the narrow focus on soil for intensive agriculture has led to rapid degradation, harming both planetary and human health. A healthy soil should be multifunctional, and a broader conceptual framework is needed to quantify soil health and ensure ongoing well-being.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Soil Science
Sara Niaz, J. Bernhard Wehr, Ram C. Dalal, Peter M. Kopittke, Neal W. Menzies
Summary: Wetting and drying cycles significantly influence soil structure and stability, and organic amendments combined with these cycles can improve the aggregate stability of sodic soils. The addition of gypsum further enhances the stability of aggregates when applied together with organic amendments, reducing dispersion of particles.
